Treegate Grows: Mayor Restaino Dismisses Critics as 'Social Media Warriors’

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino is facing scrutiny after trees were removed from his College Avenue property and a neighboring yard. On Thursday, the mayor acknowledged the removals but insisted he had no involvement in ordering the work or determining how it was paid for, stressing that those decisions rest with the city forester.

Restaino has said he did not request the trees be cut down and claimed he was surprised by their removal. He maintained that the city forester – not the mayor’s office – evaluates which trees should come down across Niagara Falls, using a scoring system similar to how street repairs are prioritized.

Questions about the removals have spread across social media and were amplified by reporting from the Niagara Reporter, a frequent critic of Restaino' administration. The controversy centers on whether taxpayer money covered work on private property. Earlier this year, city lawmakers approved a $20,000 change order to an existing $151,657 tree removal contract with M2 Tree Service of Westfield, NY. The request came from Restaino’s administration, but it did not specify which addresses were affected.

Councilman Donta Myles has since pressed for more clarity, asking the administration for work order numbers, equipment logs, invoices, and related documentation tied to the change order. His request was met with resistance. City Administrator Anthony Restaino told Myles he would need to schedule an in-person meeting to review the details rather than receive them directly. Myles argues this lack of transparency raises even more questions.

The tree removal costs were paid using interest accrued from the city’s allotment of American Rescue Plan funds.

Restaino dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, calling it the work of “social media warriors” and opponents such as the local United Steelworkers union. He reiterated that he does not personally order tree removals and relies on staff recommendations.

When asked directly about the specific properties involved, Restaino said he has not yet been provided with the same information Myles is requesting. He emphasized that his office does not keep such records on hand.

Treegate Grows: Mayor Restaino Dismisses Critics as 'Social Media Warriors’